Gas or vapor electric device.



PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904.

P. H. THOMAS.

GAS 0R VAPOR ELEGTRIC DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2,.1903.

' N0 MODEL.

w I Inwzzior Tit Ii 4 by fiamaj fl f NITED STATES Patented September 13, 1904.

PATENT Orricn.

PERCY H. THOMAS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO COOPER HEWITT ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GAS OR VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,197, dated September 18, 1904.

Application filed May 2, 1903. Serial No. 155,274. (No model.)

' sylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas or Vapor Electric Devices, of which the following is a specification.

In gas or vapor electric devices wherein the operation includes the evaporation and condensation of the electrodes there is developed during operation a physical transfer of material from one point to another. It becomes a feature of importance to provide means for maintaining a sufficient quantity of material in each of the electrodes, since in the absence of such means the device is liable to become inoperative, owing to the vaporizable material all being removed from one or more or the electrodes. It has been proposed to secure the proper distribution of material to the several electrodes by so arranging the pockets or chambers in which the electrodes are located that the condensed vapor will overflow from one electrode to another. Under such circumstances the device is generally so disposed that when all the electrode-pockets are full except the last there shall still be a suflicient quantity of electrode material in the last pocket for good operation, whereby any further condensation will overflow from the other pockets into the last pocket, and thereby restore the original volume of liquid or vaporizable material to the last electrode. In realizing this arrangement in practice there is danger that a continuous Inetallicpath will be formed by the fluid in passing from one electrode to another, thus causing a temporary short circuit between two or more of the electrodes. The present invention is designed to overcome this difliculty and is illustrated as being applied to a device containing only two electrodes, both consisting of vaporizable material, such as mercury.

In carrying out the invention advantage is taken of the fact that what has been called a negative-electrode flame is produced in the operation of devices of this class and that when currents of considerable magnitude are passing through the apparatus a strong mechanical explosive action is produced at the point where the negative flame leaves the surface of the electrode, which action violently discharges portions of the electrode material in all directions. If now the negative electrode be so constructed and disposed that its overflow will pass into the positive electrode, and if means be provided whereby the condensed material or a portion thereof (in this instance mercury) developed in the-normal operation of the apparatus is returned to the negative electrode, there will in the first place be no failure in respect to a proper distribution of the electrode material and in the second place the negative-electrode flame will discharge the mercury in small particles, and

thereby prevent the formation of threads or filaments of conducting material.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a-vertical section of an apparatus designed to embody the principles of this invention, and Fig. 2 is a detubular extension 3, which passes down into the container and is preferably located vertically over the center of the container. Below the mouth of the tube 3 I locate a cup 4, adapted to receive the negative electrode 5, which may be of mercury. A lead-wire 6 extends into the cup and forms a means of connection with the external circuit. The positive electrode 7 also of mercury or some other conducting vaporizable material, is located around the base of the cup 4: and is provided with a suitable lead-wire 8. Through some portion of the wall either of the container or of the cup I cause a tube, as 9, to be passed into the negative-electrode material, the purpose-being to provide means whereby what has usually been called a starting-band or its equivalent may be properly disposed with relation to the negative electrode. In the form of apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 I show the tube 9 dipping into the mercury and having its lower end lined with a sheet of metal foil or a metallic paint, as shown at 10.

In Fig. 2 I show the tube having a few drops of mercury in its lower end, the same appearing at 10 in said figure.

When current is applied to the apparatus thus described, vaporization of the electrode material takes place and ultimately a condensation of the vapor in the chamber 2. and on the walls of the tubular extension 3 thereof. The vapor thus condensed into the form of mercury in this instance falls by gravity down the walls of the tube 3 and drops into the cup 4, replenishing the negative-electrode material. Meanwhile the described action of the negative flame causes a violent discharge of mercurial particles against the walls of the container 1, and these particles fall into the positive electrode and replenish the same. In this way while the normal action of the apparatus tends to cause a disturbance of the original electrode conditions through the vaporization of the electrode material yet by means equally characteristic and automatic a counteracting tendency is created within the apparatus whereby normal conditions tend to be restored.

The containing vessel for the negative electrode is made cup-shaped, so that its edges may overhang the positive electrode and prevent the formation of accidental short circuits in case some of the electrode material should drip over the edge of the containing vessel.

In a divisional application, Serial No. 162,485, filed June 22, 1903, claims are made upon the method described herein.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an apparatus of the character described, a suitable container, a negative electrode therein and a containing vessel therefor, a positive electrode arranged around the base of the said containing vessel, and means for restoring the condensations to the negative electrode.

2. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus of the character described, a negative electrode of vaporizableconductingmaterial, and a positive electrode surrounding the same, also of vaporizable conducting material, the-negative electrode being so disposed as to occupy a higher position than the positive electrode.

3. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus of the character described, a container, a negative electrode therein consisting of vaporizable conducting material, a receptacle for the said electrode, the walls of the said receptacle being separated from the walls of the container, and a condensing-chamber located at a point where it is relatively free from the heat generated in the operation of the apparatus, the said condensing chamber terminating above the negative electrode.

4. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus of the character described, a container, a negative electrode consisting of vaporizable conductmg material, a receptacle for the said electrode separated from the walls of the container, a condensing-chamber above the main container. the said condensing-chamber having an extension projecting into the container and terminating above the negative electrode.

5. In agas or vapor electric apparatus of the character described, a container, a negative electrode consisting of vaporizable conducting material, a receptacle for the said electrode, separated from the walls of the container, and a condensing chamber located above the negative electrode and so disposed as to discharge itscondensations into the said receptacle.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 28th day of April, A. D. 1903.

PERCY H. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

WM. H. GAPEL, GEORGE H. S'rooKBRIDeE. 

